NFL Notebook: Bears say goodbye to Urlacher

Associated Press

March 20, 2013
Updated: March 21, 2013 1:04am

Brian Urlacher wanted to re-sign with the Chicago Bears.

Instead, they're parting ways with the 13-year veteran linebacker.

General manager Phil Emery said Wednesday the team couldn't agree on a contract with Urlacher, for years the heart and face of the franchise. He is now a free agent after being slowed by a knee problem and missing the last four games of the season with a hamstring injury.

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The 34-year-old Urlacher, an eight-time Pro Bowl pick, started 180 games from 2000 through 2012, recording a team-record 1,779 tackles. The ninth selection in the 2000 draft has 411/2 sacks, 22 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries and 11 forced fumbles. He was the AP's defensive player of the year in 2005 and reached the Super Bowl in 2006.

“I am definitely not surprised. I kind of had this feeling this whole offseason with the way the whole thing was being handled,” Urlacher said. “We made an offer, the Bears asked us to make an offer early, so we did. Never heard back from them. They made an offer, we responded to their offer and it was more like an ultimatum is what it was. It was, 'Sign this contract or we are going to move on.' And I didn't feel like that was the direction I wanted to go.”

Rules changes: Team owners passed a player safety rule barring ball carriers from using the crown of their helmets to make forcible contact with a defender in the open field, and the tuck rule was eliminated during a day of changes at the league meetings in Phoenix. Now, when a quarterback loses the ball before he has fully protected it after opting not to throw, it is a fumble.

Commissioner Roger Goodell also announced that the Pro Bowl will be held in Honolulu on Jan. 26, the Sunday before the Super Bowl, after considering scrapping the game. He added that the system for choosing the players won't change, but the idea of having team captains select their rosters was discussed.

The Rooney Rule that requires every team to interview at least one minority candidate when there is a coaching or general manager opening was discussed at length. This year, with eight coaching vacancies and seven for GMs, no minority candidates were hired. Goodell said he would like to see more flexibility when teams ask to interview candidates whose clubs still are playing.

Washington LB suspended: Redskins linebacker Rob Jackson has been suspended four games without pay for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. He started 14 games last year and had 41/2 sacks.

Shanahan talks Griffin, etc.: Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said Robert Griffin III is ahead of schedule in his return from knee ligament surgery and that “if hard work has anything to do with it,” Griffin will be ready for the season. He added Griffin must learn how to protect himself by sliding and throwing the ball away. Also, the team added free agent cornerback E.J. Biggers from Tampa Bay.